Addison f



(No Model.)

A.'P.PURE'POY. GATE.

No; 257,894. Patefited M ay16; 1882.

N. PETERS. HmlwLilhogn-lphur. Washinglan. 0.0.

- UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

ADDISON F. PUREFOY, OF WAKE FOREST, NORTH CAROLINA.

GATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 257,894, dated May 16, 1882. 7 Application filed J anuary 18, 1882. (No model.) l

. To all whom 2t may concern:

Be it known that I, ADDISON F. PUREFOY, of Wake Forest, county of Wake, and State of North Carolina, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Gates, whereof the followin g specificationis a full description.

This invention relates more particularly to the gates commonly or often called auto, matic, which are adapted to be opened and closed without taking directly hold of the gate, by moving a rod or other operating device, but it'is in part applicable to gates generally. The device referred to is placed so as to be operated by a person in a wagon or on horseback without descending. A large number of such gates have been made, but it is deemed unnecessary to explain them here.

The present invention has for its object to render the gate more efficient, economical, and

durable, and less liable to get out of order or to require frequent repairs than those heretofore known and used.

It consists in special improved means for releasing thelatch for opening the gate, for conveying the power to effect said release and opening, for holding the gate open till closed by the passer-by, for insuring the latching when the gate is closed, for prevenging sagging of the gate, and for supporting the same.

It is animport antadvantage attending this improvement that it can be applied to any of the gates in ordinary use without requiring alteration therein, and is adapted to gates opening in one or in both directions.

The accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, represent an automatic gate constructed in accordance with the invention. Figure 1 is an elevation; Fig. 2, an end view; Fig. 3, a plan, and Fig. 4t a plan and an elevation of one of the parts.

A B represent the posts, 0, the gate; D, the latch, and E F the hinges. As shown, the

Fig. 5 z ,is a plan, showing a modification of the latch-' releasing means.

degrees, or thereabout, or half the angular movement of the gate itself. On the lever G is fastened a rock-shaft, H, which extends lengthwise of the lever. At its front end' (right-hand, Fig. 1) it is provided with two arms, 0 d, which are connected each by a chain, cord, or jointed rod, 6, or similar device with the latch-D. At its rear (left-hand) endis an arm,f, with which the upright lever l is connected by the rod 9. The upright lever I has its pivot or fulcrum h at the base of the post A, and is adapted to move in a plane at right angles to that of the gate when closed. The motion of the upright lever is communicated to the horizontal lever G through the rod 9 and rock-shaft H. The first movement of the upright lever tilts the rock-shaft, raising one of the arms 0 d, and with it the latch D, and as soon as the other arm ((1 or c) bears against the horizontal lever G the movement is communicated to latterlever, and the gate is opened or closed by the pressure of it against the pin 1).

By having the horizontal lever constructed and arranged as described, the gate is adapted to open equally well in both directions, and when open the power can be effectively applied to close it, and at the same time a compare tively small movement of the upright lever is required. a

It will be observed, also, that there is no lost motion between horizontal lever and the pin on the gate, the motion required for releasing the latch being in the rockshaft on said lever.

with the latch-cords e, which pass through eyes to, and at the other with the uprightlever, and

being by preference pivoted at o behind (to the left, Fig. 1) the pivot of the main horizontal lever. At a are pins for limiting the independent play of the auxiliary lever H. The

rock-shaft is an improvement on'this arrangement, it being more efficient,strongerpandless liable to get out of order. This rock-shaft for releasing the latch is susceptible of use independent of the other parts of the invention. It may,- for example, be secured on the gate or an arm fixed thereto, so that on the application spurs, or other projections could be used to engage in the notches of the disk L. These of power it will first tilt to release the latch, and then serve as a firm connection between the gate or arm thereof and a rope or other device through which the force for opening the gate is applied.

In order to operate the upright lever, side arms, K, are fixed thereto, pendent bars or handlesi being attached at the ends, whereby the passer may readily open or close the gate by moving said arms up or down, as required.

It is obvious that cords could be attached to the upright lever to operate it; but in this case extra posts would be needed, whereas by the use of the arms K these are not necessary, and a good leverage is, moreover, secured.

In this class of gates it is desirable, it not necessary, to have some means for holding the gate open while the person is passing through. To do this extra posts provided with a device for engagingthe latch when the gate is opened have heretofore been placed on either side of the gate. In the presentinvention the desired result is secured in a better way without the need of extra posts.

On top of the post A, beneath the horizontal lever G, is fixed a disk, L, provided with notches 7c Z. The horizontal lever G is provided with rollers m, and is adapted to rise and fall a slight distance vertically as said rollers ascend or descend the sloping sides of the notches It It Z. The lever may slide on its pivot, or the pivot may slide in its bearing in the post. A weight, M, presses the lever Gr downward. When the gate is opened the rollers in enter the notches 7a or k, and the gate is held open by the engagement of the rollers in the notches under the pressure of the weight M until the passer operates the upright lever through the proper handle to turn the horizontal lever and disengage the rollers from the notches, the rollers ascending the incline sides of the notches and the horizontal lever being lifted against the pressure of the weight M. The notches Z aid in effecting the latching of the gate in closing. Then the passer has moved the rollers on the horizontal lever over the elevations between the notches land dependently of the upright lever, thus slackening the cord or chain c and allowing the latch to fall. As soon as the rollers engage in the notches Z they act to prevent the gatefrom swinging past the post B, and thus to insure the engagement of the latch.

Instead of the rollers, one or more studs,

notches could be made in the top of the posts,

if desired, or suitable catches could be used instead. The disk L forms acap-piece to protect the post as well as a catchplate for the rollers or projections on the horizontal lever.

When the gate opens in one direction only one set of notches, 70 or k, may be dispensed with.

In the drawings an additional means for holding the gate open until properly closed is shown. It consists of a weighted lever, N, pivoted to the post A, and provided with notches a, in which the pin 02 on the upright lever engages. When the upright lever is operated it raises the weighted lever N through the action of the pin a on the inclined sides of the notches, its operation being in this respect like to that of the arrangement already described on top of the post. The two mechanisms can be used together; but ordinarily one will suffice, that first described being preferred.

When the lever N is not required for holding the gate open it can be fixed to the gatepost, so as, in connection with the arm S, to steady the upright lever I. This lever can be adapted to work in a slot, it it is desired to support it at the end of its movement to prevent undue strain being accidentally brought upon the gate-opening mechanism.

The frame consisting of the upright lever I. and arms K is preferably balanced, so that when the gate is closed the center of gravity is directly over the pivot or fulcrum h, and when opened the weight of said frame assists in keeping it in that position.

In order to relieve the post A of the weight of the gate when closed, I employ a counterpoise consisting of an upright, P, and weighted arm P, the top of the upright being connected with the pin of the upper gate-hinge by a loop, P while the lower end rests on the ground at the base of the post A. A similar counterpoise can be arranged at right angles thereto to counterbalance the gate when open. A post can be placed to take the weight of the counterpoise when it is not eounterbalancing the weight of the gate.

The improvements heretofore described may be used with hinges of any ordinary or suitable construction; but the invention comprises also an improvement in the hinge, as shown at Fin the drawings. This hinge consists of a bent plate, q, and pivot q. The plate q is pierced with a hole, 1, through which the pivot q passes, and has its end bent under at s to form a support for the end of the pivot. Means are provided for attaching the hinge to the post A. As shown, it is fastened thereto by screws passing through holes in the plate q.

The invention having now been described, it may be observed, in conclusion, that details of construction may be modified, that parts of the invention can be used separately, and that the improved gates can be made of different material and with variations in the proportions and dimensions. Instead of a pivotedlifting latch, as shown, a sliding latch or one of other ordinary or suitable form may be used.

I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent the new improvements herein described, all and several, to wit:

1. The combination, with the gate and gatepost, of the lever pivoted to said postand provided with a slot, a pin on the gate working in said slot, devices for operating the lever to open and close the gate, and an auxiliary latch-- IIO releasing device connected with aforesaid 'devices and adapted to release the latch before motion is imparted to said lever, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the latch, of the rock-shaft, its arms, and connections between the said arms and the latch for releasing the said latch, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the gate, gate-post, latch, horizontal lever for moving the gate, rock-shaft or other latch-releasing device carried by said lever, and operating devices connected with said lever and rock-shaft or latchreleasing device, so that in opening the gate the latch is first released independently of the said lever, and motion is then communicated to the latter to move the gate, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with the gate and gatepost, of the upright lever pivoted at the base of the post, and ahorizontal lever pivoted to the said post at the top, and connected with the gates by means'of a slot-and-pin connection, and adapted to be operated to move the gate by said upright lever, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with a gate, gate-post, and mechanism for moving the gate, of an upright lever having its pivot or fulcrum at the base of thepost and connected with said mechanism, and one or more arms attached to and projecting from said upright lever to operate the same, substantially as described.

The combination of the uprightlever, its operating-arms, horizontal lever, rock-shaft, and connections for unlatchin g and for opening and closing a gate, substantially as described.

7. The combination, with mechanism for opening and closing a gate, of devices carried by the gate-post and operating independently of the weight of the gate, for holding the gate when opened in that position, while permitting.

it to be closed through said mechanism, substantially as described.

8. The combination, with a gate and mechanism for opening and closing the same, of mechanism operating independently of the weight of the gate and comprising a weight, a notched device, and one or more rollers, pins, or other projections for engaging the notch or notches of said device, as and for the purpose setforth.

9. The combination, with a moving lever capable of a slight vertical movement or movementlengthwise of its pivot, of rollers or projections on said lever and a notched disk or device, substantially as described.

10. The combination, with ahinged gate and its gate-post, of one or more counterpoisessupported at the base of the post and connected with the pivot of the upper hinge, as set forth.

11.. .The hinge comprising, in combination with a pivot-pin, a plate pierced with a hole for the passage of the pivot-pin, and bent upon itself to form bearing for the end of the said pin, substantially as described.

12. An automatic gate comprising, in combination with the gate, gate-post, and latch, the following elements: upright leverwith operating-arms, horizontal lever connected with gate, rock-shaft, or other latch-releasing device, such as indicated, carried by the horizontal lever, and connected with said upright lever and with the latch, and means, as explained, for holding the gate open by the engagement of rollers or projections in notches, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

A. I PUREFOY.

Witnesses:

PHILIP MAURO, C. J. HEDRIGK. 

